In Loving Rememberance

It's been two years since my last blog post and so much has happened since then. March 14th, 2011, marks the two year anniversary of my Mother's passing.

With here passing I have come to realize how much I cherish the words she wrote and is the prompting for me to start blogging/journaling again.

Something I heard during this evening's sermon stirred me to start once again writing as I want to leave a recorded account of God's faithfulness in my life and a way to document life's events, because life is truly short.

Sitting at my Mother's bedside, waiting for her to Pass I was praying when the spirit spoke the following words to me, "Our life here on earth truly is a gift, brief as it is, and I thank you Lord for the comfort in knowing that Your Son died on the cross, that we will once again be untied forever."

My Mother was one of those people that drew people to her. She was the center of so many things in our family, a family (like so many) that became geographically dispersed and grew out of touch. Yet, you could always count on everyone reaching out and keeping Mom informed of the latest news and happenings.

Family Reunions and outings were also her speciality. My Mom understood the importance of life and the necessity to live and love everyday, while fostering our relationships. Some of the best times, after becoming an adult and having a family of my own, were the family gatherings back home. My Mom thrived on having her family together and there were some great memories made during these times:



Live is short, a gift from our creator, and how we spend the time given to us is our decision to make. The gift of free will is a gift God has given each of us. Whatever you do in life make sure that you spend that time doing what matters most.

The Magic of Being a Child

I love watching my children discover the magic of the world around them. This past weekend the El Cajon Library sponsored a local Magician, Michael E. Johnson, for a magic show. Michael was truly a great entertainer, who handle the kids wonderfully, and added a touch of that subtle adult humor to keep us all laughing and entertained. My daughter Katie was selected for one of his routines and I so wish I had my camcorder to capture the amazement on her face when one foam rabbit turned into many.

As adults we understand the concept of mis-direction but the kid in me wanted to ignore and look on in wonder and amazement, just like my daughter. Too often life has a way of desensitizing our view and not letting us see the wonder of God that surrounds us in our everyday life. I hope I can continue an attitude of wonder and amazement, even when life seems to get the best of me.

Living Life Today with an Old World Feel

This Picture is a current photo of the home I grew up in and the home my parents still live in!

I love going back home to rural Maine. Growing up in a small community was one of the better things that happened to me. Every time I fly back home and make the drive from the airport to my hometown I feel like I am traveling through a portal to another world. My parents home is one of the oldest in the town and was built in the mid 1800s, yes I said the mid 1800s. This makes the home more than 150 years old. Walking into the big old barn it is quickly evident that this barn's timbers were hewn by hand. Looking even closer you can see the notches and wooden pegs that hold the main timbers in place.

This picture was taken with a digital camera in full color, even though it might not look like it. Take a look at the fence posts and you will see the yellow insulators. It just happened to be an extremely overcast, gray, snowy day and with the added look of the weather beaten cedar shingles than you get the illusion of a lack of color.

Here are a couple of facts about my life growing up on this farm:

1. All wood heat - we cut and split 10-15 cord of firewood every year
2. My Mom baked everything we ate on a wood stove, yes I said wood.
   
3. We grew all our own vegetables.
4. We raised all of our own livestock, including cows (milked by hand), chickens, pigs, steers, ducks, turkeys, etc...
5. In the early days running water was a hand pump on the end of a big slate sink in the kitchen. Dad did put a pump in and plumping. The slate sink is still there today.
   
6. Spring fed well water that comes out so cool that it forms condensation on the outside of your glass.
7. All of our equipment for working the land (plows, harrows, mowing machines [for haying] rakes [for raking the hay], tethers, were horse drawn. My Dad modified the tongues to be pulled by a tractor while either me or my brother rode on the equipment to operate it.
8. My Mom either canned or froze all of the fall harvest, which was harvested by hand.
9. We had an apple orchard and Mom always made the best apple sauce and a variety of other apple products.
10. My Mom did all of her wash in ringer/washer, hand rinsing in a washtub, and hang drying.
11. During the cold months we pee'd in a chamber pot, all other times potty time was in the outhouse. The outhouse is still actively used today - oh, and it is a double seater.
12. Baths were in a galvanized washtub, placed in front of the cook stove, youngest to oldest, so it seemed I always had 'gray' water by the time it was my turn.
13. We had our own Mapple Sugar bush and made homemade maple syrup every year.
14. Rock walls separates the fields.
15. Homemade pizza night and Mom's McDonald's nights were my favorite.
16. As a teenager it was an hour drive to the nearest movie theater (A two-plex).
17. In the fall for fun we would take apples from the orchard and put them across the road and wait for a car to come by to 'splat' them.
18. Berry picking (blue berries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries) was tedious as we only had the wild kind and wild blue berries/strawberries are small.
19. Ice skating was on a beaver bog, that is still there today.
20. We never had a neighbor complain about us making too much noise because we never had any neighbors close enough to hear us.
    

The First School Christmas Play

That first Christmas play, for some of us (me) I have no memory of it (thank you God), for others it may have been something a bit frightening.  I mean think about it.  Here is a group of pre-K kids who are all under five, us parents wanting to be PROUD of our little bundles of joys, encourage them to get in front of a horde of Paparzi wanna be, photo taking, video recording, yelling crowd of parents.  Who, by the way, are all vying for that Ultimate photo opportunity spot.

So looking at this scene from a child's point of view it is a wonder that they can even get up on the stage, let alone perform.  My little one is on the right and her reaction is so funny.  As they go up to the mic the two Cats have the line, "But it is dark in here."  The first girl says her line, than bolts back to her spot on the stage, to which my daughter starts to say her line than realizes she is alone and turns tail (literally, she loved her Kitty tail) and does not finish her line.  Too cute.

Thanksgiving wishes

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and it is a time to spend with Family, loved ones, and friends. A time that we reach out to our relationships, eat too much food, have a good excuse for being lazy, and hopefully reflect on the many things we are thankful for.

Thankful, according to Wikipedia, is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received. All of us have received something, no matter how small and it is our attitude that defines our outlook on life. Are you thankful?

...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:20

Is it too soon for Christmas?

This was fun last year and this year JibJab, along with OfficeMax, have updated and added new dance moves to everyone's favorite Elf Yourself competition. My two little girls get the biggest kick out of seeing their Mom and Dad dance across the stage.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Of course I needed to have a bit more fun, so decided I would add my parents into a video of their own. So here they are, along with their dog Max, showing off those Christmas disco moves!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Watch out - My teen just got her license

Oh that wondrous feeling of freedom, the bliss of independence, that life marker we all remember, receiving our drivers license and heading out on our own for the first time. My daughter made a decision to wait until she was 18 to apply for her driver's license (as a parent I had no problem with this). Today her step-mom took her over to the DMV and less than 30 minutes later my daughter was coming back smiling and radiating confidence, or maybe that was fear? We all remember feeling excited, nervous, or more or less just plain scared but man what an adrenalin rush.

I am proud of my daughter, who continues to work hard while going to college and being the best she can be.